Volusia County warns of dangerous surf, rip currents as storm approaches

Strong winds, heavy rain and large waves are expected along the Volusia County coast this weekend as a cold front moves through Central Florida, prompting beach safety officials to warn of dangerous swimming conditions.Wind gusts could reach 40 to 45 mph beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, while breaking waves could reach 8 to 10 feet, according to county officials. Beach erosion concernsThe rough surf is expected to increase the risk of rip currents and could worsen beach erosion."It's gonna be crazy," one beachgoer said.Dwayne Horvath said he was concerned about the potential impact on recent beach restoration work."I'm concerned about the erosion on the beach. They just did a lot of work here," Horvath said. "And I hope it don't affect all that effort they put in."The timing of the storm could add to coastal concerns because the region experiences some of its highest astronomical tides during the fall. When elevated tides coincide with strong winds, heavy rain and rough surf, coastal flood